County: Galway Site name: KNOCKATEE EAST
Sites and Monuments Record No.: GA017–128 Licence number: 06E0988
Author: Declan Moore, Moore Archaeological & Environmental Services Ltd (Moore Group)
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 549771m, N 764000m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.623411, -8.759264
Testing was carried out at Knockatee East, near Dunmore, Co. Galway, on 2 and 3 October 2006. The proposed development entails the realignment of the R328, with the aim of straightening a dangerous bend on the road. The testing programme covered a semicircular area of undulating pastureland located c. 1km north-west of the town of Dunmore. GA017–144, an unclassified earthwork, GA017–145, an unclassified earthwork, and GA017–128, a circular enclosure, are in the immediate vicinity of the proposed development area.
The test excavation consisted of one continuous centreline trench with six offset trenches at either side at regular intervals along the footprint of the proposed road realignment, to a total length of 285.5m. No archaeological features or deposits were encountered in the test-trenches. However, owing to the proximity of the known monuments, monitoring of topsoil removal was recommended.
Few finds were recovered during testing. Six sherds of modern/post-medieval pottery, one segment of a clay-pipe stem and one undiagnostic piece of ferrous metal were found in the topsoil. The most important find consisted of a large, unprovenanced and partially damaged industrial quernstone, which was found under a tree adjacent to Test-trench 1. This suggests that there may be other similar features in the area of the proposed works.
Corporate House, Ballybrit Business Park, Ballybrit, Galway
